United Nations Development Programme

United Nations Development Programme

Helen Clark: Remarks on the 2013 Commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day, and Meeting of the UN Global Compact Working Group against Corruption

Dec 9, 2013

Remarks by Helen Clark, Administrator
of the UN Development Programme, on the 2013 Commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day, and Meeting of the UN Global Compact Working Group against Corruption
UN HQ, New York, 9 December, 11:00am

I am delighted to have this opportunity to recognize a Special Guest to this event and the United Nations.

Muhunde Christian arrived yesterday from Rwanda, to join us as the winner of this year’s Anti-Corruption Day competition. In designing a simple but powerful message to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, Muhunde at 24 has already had an impact on the global movement against corruption. His message has been selected from more than four hundred entries.

Mahunde’s initiative reflects the spirit we celebrate with this Day. Creative, motivated, and engaged people around the world, including many young people, are increasingly taking action to demand greater accountability for development.

Enabled by technology and empowered by information – their voices and efforts are raising the prospect of an “accountability revolution” – whereby people of all walks of life are engaged in monitoring development progress, shining a light on corrupt practices, and holding their governments to account. Today, in commemorations in more than 60 countries around the world, we recognize the people and groups behind this effort.

We do so under the banner of Muhunde’s winning logo and message for this year’s anti-corruption campaign: “Zero Corruption, 100% Development”.

UNDP and UNODC have worked together since 2009 to raise the profile of International Anti-Corruption Day. Our campaigns have reached out to networks of young people, civil society organizations, media, and development actors – it’s estimated that some 200 million people have been reached one way or another.

Muhunde’s message and the campaign we advance today provide us with tools to change attitudes and end corruption. We at UNDP and UNODC look forward to working with you to build the movement we need to achieve “Zero Corruption, 100% Development”

I ask you to join me in thanking and congratulating Muhunde for his contribution to realizing a world without corruption.
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Leadership

Helen Clark became the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme on 17 April 2009, and is the first woman to lead the organization.